Tournaisian (early Osagean) brachiopods from a bioherm in the St. Joe Formation near Kenwood, Oklahoma

A diverse early Osagean (Upper Tournaisian) brachiopod fauna from a carbona te buildup in the St. Joe Formation near Kenwood, Mayes County, northeaster n Oklahoma, is described. This is the earliest Lower Carboniferous, and per haps only, Tournaisian biohermal brachiopod fauna described in North Americ a, although potentially earlier unknown faunas could occur in mid-Kinderhoo kian bioherms of southwestern Missouri. It consists of 40 species in 34 gen era and is characterized by unusually robust specimens of several species. New species are Geniculifera siphuncula, Pustula kenwoodensis, Pustula okla homae, Schizophoria mayesensis, Rhynchopora kollari, Cranaena salinensis, a nd Dielasma oklahomensis.